Bella Colombo pulls up near the basket.

BATTLE GROUND — In a matchup of Columbia Valley League co-favorites, Columbia Adventist came back from a double-digit deficit to beat Naselle 56-47 Tuesday, Jan. 21, taking control of first place. Adventist improved to 3-0 in league play, while Naselle fell to 1-1.

Hot shooting by Lauren Katyryniuk helped Naselle build a big first-half lead. Katyryniuk hit a three-pointer on a pass from Bella Colombo off the opening tip and added another three minutes later. She then scored on the break off an Echo Cenci steal to put the Lady Comets ahead 19-10 after a quarter.

Late in the second quarter, Katyryniuk knocked down her third three, giving her 13 points already and putting Naselle ahead 28-17 with 2:09 to go in the half.

Columbia Adventist scored seven points in the last 1:37 of the half, getting going with an open shot off a press-break and a layup off a steal. Brenna Sherrill’s three-pointer on an in-bound play at the end of the half cut the Comet lead to 30-24.

The Kodiaks began to figure out the 1-3-1 defense the Comets were playing, passing effectively around the zone. They outscored the cold-shooting Comets 16-9 in the third quarter to take the lead. Adventist then scored the first seven points of the fourth, a stretch capped by a drive and three-point play by Emma Heinrich after the Comets switched to man defense, to make it 47-39 with 5:39 left.

Naselle never made it closer than six the rest of the way, and the Kodiaks won by nine. Katyryniuk led the Comets with 19 points, and Jackie Steenerson added nine.

The Lady Comets will have a rematch with CAA at home on Feb. 4 at 6:00 p.m. Both teams will be favored in all their remaining league games. Naselle hosts Taholah for a non-league contest Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7:00 p.m., then visits Three Rivers Christian for a league contest Thursday, Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m.